Biological molecules Flashcards
What are sugars made of?
Carbon + hydrogen + Oxygen
What happens when many sugars join together?
A polysaccharide is formed when many simple sugars joined together.
The process to test sugars ( Carbohydrates )
To test the presence of sugar add Benedict’s solution to the food and heat it, if sugars are present the color changes to brick red gradually from blue to green to yellow to orange to brick red. If there are no sugars present then the solution will remain blue.
The process to test starch
To test starch, drops of iodine solution needs to be added to the food (heating is not required), if starch is present then, the iodine solution turns blue-black but if starch is not present iodine solution remains orange-brown.
Why do organisms die if they don’t have water?
Organisms die without water because
- Metabolic reaction only occurs with chemicals dissolved in water
- Cytoplasm is made up of different solutions with water.
- removal of waste from the body requires water
- Empty spaces in cells require water too so if they dry out the reactions stop and the organisms die.
polysaccharide
Animal - glycogen Plant -sucrose
Adipose tissues
When large drops of fats and oils are stored in cells underneath the skin, they help keep the body heated.
Blubber
Thick layers of adipose tissues.
The process to test fats and oils
First, chop the food and shake it adding ethanol, since fats and oils dissolve in ethanol and not water, then add the ethanol mixture to water, if fats or oils are present the ethanol mixture will tear up to million tiny droplets when mixed with water, this mixture is called emulsion. it is white and opaque, like milk. if fats are not present the mixture of ethanol and water remains transparent.
Amino acids
the long chains of smaller molecules joined end to end make proteins the small molecules are amino acids.
The process to test proteins
To test proteins we need to mix the food in sodium hydroxide and mix it, then add 1% of copper sulfate without shaking the mixture. blue to violate/purple.
The process to test Vitamin C
Add drops of testing solution into a test tube with 1% DCPIP along with mixing after every drop, If Vitamin C is present color changes from blue to colorless.
Nucleotide and Nucleoside
Nucleosides are responsible for encoding, transmitting, and expressing genetic information in all living things. Nucleotides are building blocks of nucleic acids DNA and RNA which also help in metabolism and enzyme reactions. Nucleotides are composed of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), and at least one phosphate group.
Amino Acid equations
A.A + A.A = Dipeptide, A.A + Dipeptide = Tripeptide, A.A + Tripeptide = Polypeptide
Functions of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are needed for energy (1g = 17kJ). Carbohydrates called glucose are in the plasma, which travels to every cell, where energy is produced. In plants sucrose is transported around and the cells convert this into glucose.
